Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, unfortunately for them, I do own this storyline.
Storyline- Naruto, after retrieving Sasuke, begins to learn a little bit more about why he's hated, who his friends really are, and why he is beginning to change.
Morgri- Thank you all for reading and reviewing the 3rd chapter in my story, I deeply appreciate your thoughts and advice given to me. You'll see what happening with his thought process soon Ronin 101, just read on my friend. And remember to read my other story Shattered.
Anyways, thanks for reading chapter 3, and I hope you enjoy the fourth… Don't forget, tell your friends to read :)
Story begins after chapter 118.
Morgri- By the way, this story takes place mostly in Naruto's point of view.
"Character Speaking"
Flash Back
-POV-
Thoughts
Shift in time, or scene
When did you change?
Morgri
Episode Four – Frozen
Dreams are dreams, The Sky is limitless, the sea is endless…
I'm not playing the fool anymore…
Cause
I still got my Soul…'
"Wake up, or you'll be late…"
"Huh?"
"Wake up, or you'll be late…"
"Who, Where… Who are you?
"Wake up, or you'll be late…"
"Where am I?"
"Wake up… Or you'll be late…" The voice seemed to get more distant… "Wake up…… or you'll be late…" And more distant… "or… you… b…"
"Huh… Where am I?"
I looked around, trying to focus in to where I was at. I saw a clock, a small blanket…
Then I realized… I was in my house. I looked around bewildered, this wasn't where I was before. It was cold, and dark… It was damp, like… Like somewhere I had never been before… But… It felt like I had been there before. It felt… That voice, who was it? It was strong, and confident… Harsh, but compassionate, as if it wanted to help me, as if it wanted to protect me.
But…
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNGGGGG
"Huh" I looked at the ringing clock… It read 8:30… "Oh, it must be time to go…" I realized.
I got up out of bed, and wobbled to the door, the affects of our missions still hadn't worn out and I still felt tired. In thirty minutes I would see Iruka, smiling and treating me for ramen… But I don't feel excited about that today… I don't feel happy today.
Ugh…
I trotted down stairs, and made my way to the streets, to head to the Ichiraku. It didn't take long for the villagers to make my long day even longer… The stares and glares shot my way. They were different this time. They were more hateful, hateful as if I had done something wrong today, as if I had failed my mission. I lowered my head to the ground. Normally, I would have just smiled and ignored them, but for some reason, today I can't.
I can't smile…
So much has happened today, and I even though I try to act like Naruto…
Naruto…
Who is Naruto? Am I really Naruto, the always laughing, always smiling boy that trots down the streets playing pranks every day? Or… Is that just who everyone wants me to be? To… To tell you the truth, I hate being Naruto… I hate it because… Because I can't be me… I can't be Uzumaki Naruto…
You ask me… well who is Uzumaki Naruto? Would you believe me if I told you that I really don't know who I am? It's been so long since I've been myself that all the façade's and different personalities have made me forget.
No… They didn't make me forget, I made myself forget, but in reality, my reality, I haven't forgotten who I really am. In fact, I want to be who I really am, but the only problem is everyone else doesn't. They have only ever seen this Naruto, the fake one. I really have no intentions of changing that either. The only problem is, is that everyday the fake one seems to slip a little more, and constantly, all my weaknesses are being shown.
But what can you do…?
"Naruto!!!"
I was snapped out of my thoughts. I like towards the sound of a voice. To my surprise it was…
"Ino?"
"Hey wait up," she screamed.
I stopped in place. What in the world would Ino want from me? I hope I didn't do anything wrong, it would just make today more miserable.
"Hmmm? Can I help you?" I asked, not really paying attention to anything I was doing.
She gave me a weird look, like had done something wrong. Though, she didn't have the hateful eyes that everyone else had. She was looking at me differently. Even Sakura glared at me with the eyes of the villagers, more times that I can think of.
"Hey, I…" She stopped, seemingly searching for the words to use. "I…" She went back into thought again. "Ha, funny I'm doing this to Naruto of all people," She spoke to herself.
"…" I just watched her, kind of interested, and on the other hand, kind of fearful… What a strange girl.
"Hey, well where are you going?" She finally finished a sentence.
"To the Ramen stand."
"The ramen stand, for what?" She asked again.
"Well, Iruka is treating me to some Ramen, for completing the mission." I like over to her, and gave her a small smile.
"Oh, well you don't mind if I join you, do you?"
Now this caught my attention. Why in the world, would she want to come with me of all people, to a ramen stand. I mean, lets think about it, this is what, the first, no wait maybe second time this girl has talked to me. Hey, how bad could it be, at least I won't be alone walking through the village, which is pretty uncommon.
"No, it's fi…COUGH COUGH" Another cough attack hit me. "Sorry, sure you can come with me."
"Alright! Lets go!" She took my arm and dragged me across the village, seemingly as fast as she could.
--Ino's POV—(Heh, see I told you I would switch it sooner or later :p)---
Well, I never thought I would have seen this coming. Here I am with the most obnoxious boy in Konoha, and I actually asked him if I could go with him. Great job Ino, now I'm stuck with him for another who knows how long. Remind me again now, why did I decide to do this? Oh… oh yeah, thank him for bringing Sasuke back to the village. Tell me again now, why should I thank him anyway? It's not like he did me a favor or anything, ok well so he brought Sasuke back, but I shouldn't have to thank him.
Gosh he's quiet, this isn't like him at all. Pff, what do I know about him? Well I know enough to tell that this isn't him. Hey, who knows… or really cares for that matter.
"Cough, Cough"
I looked over to him, he really was coughing pretty badly, I wonder why…
"Hey are you sick or something, your coughing an awful lot."
He looked over to me, and gave me wistful look, "Just a little outa breadth I guess, after all, I just got back from a mission," he said.
I turned and looked back towards where we were going. I guess there was really nothing to talk about, because most the time he stayed quiet. So I decided that I would make a topic, just to get a conversation going, I don't want to be to board.
"The doctors said that chouji was going to be alright, that he only lost a lot of energy."
"That's great, he was a lot braver and stronger than I thought." He said.
"Yeah, I guess I doubted him too… I guess I should apologize for calling him fat all the time."
"Well that one is kind of true…"
"Haha… Yeah I guess." I said, as I looked back at him, and he gave me another smile.
"I still don't understand why Sasuke-kun would run away like that though…" I said, continuing the conversation.
He looked my way, "I think I understand why,"
"Huh, what do you mean?"
"Sasuke, he wasn't always as cold as he is now. I trust you know, being you watch him everyday,"
I felt mildly childish by this comment, being it was kind of true. I mean I do like Sasuke-kun, but they never really were respectably reasons. Sure he had good looks, and was smart, but what do I really know about Sasuke-kun? I guess not as much as I thought…
"He's, well, a lot like me in a way, but then again he is a lot different than I am,'" He continued. "I guess, it really is hard to explain… I just know." He looked down to the ground.
"I… see…" I frowned a little. I guess I shouldn't worry about it, it's not worth worrying about I guess.
"I really hope things go well for Sasuke, but I'm not going to leave him alone… I think that's what he is really afraid of." Naruto spoke.
"Afraid! Why would Sasuke-kun be afraid? What does he have to be afraid of?"
"failure… Failure"
"…We..well…" I couldn't say much… mostly because I knew that Naruto was probably right. What hit me hard was that in just two minutes I had learned more about Sasuke-kun than I had the five years that I had been chasing him.
"How do you know so much about Sasuke-kun?" I asked.
"Heh," He shook his head, "I always watched him, since I was a kid, because he was like me in so many ways. I thought that, when he had… become… like me, that he would be my friend."
"Become, like you?"
"Yes, you know about the destruction of the Uchiha clan don't you?"
"Yes…"
"Well, then you know why… When Sasuke's parents and family were murdered, that's, that's when he became like me."
"Uh-huh…"
"He used to be really cheerful. He smiled, and laughed, and talked; Just like any kid would. But then he lost his parents, what else was he suppose to do? We don't know, because it never happened to us."
"I guess… But what would drive him to want to leave the village?"
"Revenge…"
"Revenge?"
"Hehe, you know how it goes, sadness triggers anger, anger triggers hate, and hate triggers revenge…"
"I guess that's true…"
Wow, I never thought Naruto knew so much. Then again though, he was always coming up with brilliant plans to defeat his enemies, though no one chose to acknowledge those strategies, but hey, it's though thoughts that count, and he thought it up so it counts.
Well, I guess hanging around him really isn't that bad, well when he isn't hyper anyway. I guess I kinda of judged him a lot, without really even knowing what he really was like. Hey, well I'm not perfect you know… Though, I do look perfect.
"Ino…"
"Huh?"
"We're here…"
"Ummm… yeah… hahaha…"
He gave me another one of his smiles and led me into the restaurant. A whole bunch of people were at the Ichiraku, so I went to sit over towards Sakura, Shikamaru, Lee, TenTen, and a couple of others.
"Bye Naruto"
"Huh? Oh Bye"
--Naruto POV--
After a rather odd conversation with Ino, We had finally made it to the Ichiraku Ramen, and I found Iruka-sensei waiting for me in our usual seats. So I gladly went to take my seat.
"Iruka-sensei," I greeted him with my usual exuberance.
"Ah Naruto, good to see you, ready for some ramen?"
"Of course, especially since it's free."
"Good, hey can we get a, what would you like Naruto?"
"Miso,"
"Ok, give me two Miso Ramens."
The old man went off to make the ramen elsewhere, and as soon as my day started to turn around, I saw an ANBU appear next to Iruka-sensei. He whispered something I couldn't understand into his ears, and then he disappeared again. Iruka-sensei went into thought, and I knew that something bad was happening, if not going to happen soon.
"Naruto, I have to excuse myself,"
"Bu… but Iruka-sensei, you just got here, how can you go?"
"Hokage-sama has called me, we'll have to do this another time."
"bu…" I couldn't think of anything else to say, besides, nothing I said would have changed his mind anyway."
"I'm sorry Naruto," And just like that, Iruka-sensei had left.
So, my whole night had just got ruined. I put my elbows on the table, and pulled the glass of water next to me. There was really nothing much else to do, but wait, and eat, I suppose. Hmmm… so what should I do, their really isn't anything.
--Ino POV--
I looked over to Naruto, he looked pretty sad as he was dipping his finger in the water and swirling it around. I guess I really feel sorry for him, after all, I have never really seen him hanging around anyone… Except for maybe Sakura, and I know how she avoids him.
"Sakura, why do you avoid Naruto?"
"Naruto, what makes you think about Naruto right now,"
"Well because… I mean,"
"Naruto almost killed Sasuke-kun Ino, he should be alone anyway."
"How can you say that about your teammate?"
"Watch this…"
I saw Sakura talk to some older guys sitting next to us. They smiled deviously and shook their heads as the got up. 'What could she be thinking?' I wondered.
The two boys got up and walked towards the non-challant Naruto. He had just received his ramen, and he was eating rather slowly, and not paying attention to anything. He gave a couple of heavy coughs when I saw Sakura's plan go into action.
The two boys took Naruto Ramen bowl.
"Huh?" Naruto yelped looking confused.
"Take this fox boy," Yelled the two boys. They pulled Naruto's out of his chair and dumped the hot bowl of ramen. After that I saw Sakura take her empty ramen bowl and with all her force she tossed at Naruto's soaked body. I hit him hard in the chest.
--All POV--
"aaah… cough, cough" Naruto fell to the ground, his chest burning, and his heart pounding. The coughing fit keep getting worse, and Naruto could only hold on to his chest.
Blood started to makes it way through Naruto's mouth, as Naruto gasped in pain clutching his chest.
"Naruto!" Called out Ino, as she rushed to his side. Sure, she had only talked to him for only a moment, but this, this was out of hand. Naruto was dying, and she didn't know what she could do.
"Help" yelled Ino, "He's dying!" She called out.
Cough, Cough The darkness engulfed Naruto. 'What's going on? Why is it dark? What's happening… Fox, Fox… Where are you? Why does my heart hurt? Am I dying? Hello… Don't leave alone Kyuubi… Please… Not like this… Please…
Please…
Please…'
As quickly as possible, Kakashi had taken the now unconscious Naruto away, and was rushing to the hospital.
"Sakura!"
"I… I didn't know… He was hurt…" She said shakely.
"Are you happy now… Not even Naruto deserved this," Ino shot back.
"I… didn't know… I…" She stuttered… "I didn't… know…"
-----End Episode Four.------
Morgri- I know this is an extremely small chapter, and probably somewhat baldy written, but cut me some slack man… I'm in college now :p
I'm aware that it took me a long long time to write this chapter, but please read it and give me feed back. I promise the next chapter will be more filling. So, just read, and give me feedback so I know ya'll are still out their.
Thanks much! Morgri!